Malformed Packet: ISAKMP in Wireshark

Hi, has anyone else this this in Wireshark when running PIA?

Expert Info (Error/Malformed): Malformed Packet (Exception occurred)

Is it normal or no?

Thanks,

G

Comments

  • Hello!

    The error means the packet isn't whole as expected. Might you be seeing this whether you connect over UDP or TCP (if you're using our application to connect with; if you're using PPTP you're connecting over TCP and if you're using L2TP you're connecting over UDP)? It could be that there's an issue with MTU values and lowering them on the used adapter might help, but beyond that I'm not very familiar with that error. If you wish, you could email [email protected] and include your operating system and a request for MTU lowering steps, and our techs could assist you and see if there's any improvement!
  • Thanks for the info. I have it set to TCP but for no good reason. After the change back to UDP I'll run another Wireshark capture and report back.

    Thanks again.
  • Good call. Changed back to UDP and now error free. Thanks again.
  • I'm having the same issue years later. Has anyone technical figured this out yet? When I force TCP I get malformed ISAKMP packets. Also was getting an unusually high number of TCP RST. I would really like to get this to work rather than throwing hands up.
  • So I contacted the actual support Email and didn't get any information better than what was given here. "Use UDP?" basically. However I noticed with the new v79 things appear to be functioning properly? I'm not sure what specifically might have changed with the vague changelog.

    ¿?¿ idk ¿?¿
  • I'm pretty sure when running TCP on PIA the packet overhead is doubled and it causes malformed packets because it goes over MTU. I'm not an expert with TCPIP especially with VPNs, but that is my best guess.
Sign In or Register to comment.